Timeline of the 2025–26 shutdown
| July 2025 | Proclamation No. 1395/2025 raises the withholding tax on winnings from games of chance from about 15% to 20–25%; licensed operators keep paying a turnover tax of about 15% on stakes. |
|---|---|
| November 2025 | The National Intelligence and Security Service announces the arrest of 24 people described as owners and associates of betting companies, alleging that more than ETB 100 billion in government revenue was concealed and moved abroad. |
| 4 December 2025 | The Ethiopian Lottery Service (ELS) suspends the licences of 22 sports betting companies. |
| 15 December 2025 | ELS revokes all remaining sports betting licences — online platforms, retail shops, agents and linked payment services — citing a nationwide review of the betting and financial sectors and threats to national security. |
| January 2026 | The 24 people arrested in November are reported to have been released; the status of the case is not publicly explained. |
| February 2026 | At a parliamentary hearing, the state minister of culture and sports says permanently blocking betting is "impossible" and argues for a legal framework; the ELS chief executive describes split oversight between two ministries as an obstacle. |
| Mid-2026 | The Federal High Court overturns the suspension of one operator, Hulu Sport, on procedural grounds; the regulator appeals and obtains a stay, so no operator resumes. |
| July 2026 | ELS publishes a notice: "there is no sports betting organisation operating in Ethiopia with a legal licence", cautions the public against depositing with illegal services, and asks people to report them via short code 9695. |
As of our latest check, there is no licensing process open, no consultation and no announced date for a regulated market to return.
What this means for 1xBet, Melbet and Win Win Bet
- 1xBet ran 1xbet.et under a National Lottery Administration licence issued to Kairos Entertainment PLC in December 2021. That licence is no longer valid. The brand is accessible from Ethiopia through its international site under a Curaçao licence.
- Melbet ran mel-bet.et under a licence issued to Bet Win Sport PLC in January 2020. Same outcome: revoked; the international site (Curaçao OGL/2024/561/0554) remains reachable.
- Win Win Bet never held an Ethiopian licence; it has always operated internationally under Curaçao licence 1668/JAZ.
In practical terms all three are now in the same category: international operators used by Ethiopians at their own risk. Our reviews of 1xBet, Melbet and Win Win Bet say so on every page.
Is it illegal for a player to bet on an international site?
The ELS notice is addressed to citizens and warns against engaging with unlicensed services; it frames the risk mainly as loss of money and data with no legal recourse. We are not lawyers and this site is not legal advice. What we can say is that penalties, if any, are not spelled out in the public notices we have read, and enforcement so far has targeted operators, agents and payment providers rather than individual bettors. If you need certainty, consult a lawyer in Ethiopia.
What you lose without a local licence
Dispute resolution
No Ethiopian body will take your complaint. Your only routes are the operator's support and, in theory, its Curaçao licensing authority.
Payment stability
The December 2025 measures explicitly covered payment services linked to betting. A method that works today can disappear from a cashier tomorrow.
Data and funds
ELS warns that money and personal information held by unlicensed services are at risk. Keep balances small and withdraw regularly.
Scams in the vacuum
The regulator's July notice was prompted by social-media pages and "money-collection channels" impersonating bookmakers. Only use official domains or apps downloaded from them.
Taxes on winnings
Proclamation No. 1395/2025 sets the withholding tax on winnings from lotteries, prize draws and sports betting at 20–25% of the prize. Locally licensed operators deducted the tax automatically at payout (reviews of 1xbet.et before the ban describe a 15% deduction under the previous rate). Whether an international operator withholds Ethiopian tax on an ETB account is not stated in the materials we reviewed; the legal obligation to declare income may still sit with you. This is a question for a tax professional, not for a bonus website.
Practical checklist if you decide to bet anyway
- Use only official domains or apps from them
Never send money to a social-media page or an individual claiming to represent a bookmaker.
- Verify your identity immediately
KYC before the first withdrawal is standard at all three brands; doing it early avoids a frozen balance later.
- Test each payment method with a small amount
Deposit and withdraw a minimum before committing more — see the payment guide.
- Keep balances low and withdraw regularly
You have no local recourse if an account is frozen.
- Read the bonus terms before accepting
A bonus locks your deposit until the rollover is complete — the bonus guide explains how to cost it.
- Set deposit limits and a budget
All three operators offer limits and self-exclusion. See responsible gambling.
Sources
Ethiopian Lottery Service notices reported by Addis Standard and iGaming Business (December 2025 and July 2026); Proclamation No. 1395/2025 as reported by SiGMA World and Focus Gaming News; the operators' own terms pages; independent audits of the Ethiopian versions of the three brands dated September 2026. We update this page when the regulator's position changes; the date at the top is our last check.
FAQ
Are there any licensed betting sites in Ethiopia?
No. Since 15 December 2025 no sports betting operator holds a licence from the Ethiopian Lottery Service, which confirmed this again in July 2026. Lotteries run by the state remain legal.
Is 1xBet still legal in Ethiopia?
Its Ethiopian licence was revoked with all others. It operates for Ethiopian customers under a Curaçao licence, which the Ethiopian regulator does not recognise. The same applies to Melbet; Win Win Bet never had a local licence.
Will the ban be lifted?
Officials said in February 2026 that a permanent block is unrealistic and that a new framework is needed, but as of our last check there is no licensing process, consultation or timeline.
How much tax is charged on betting winnings?
20–25% of the prize under Proclamation No. 1395/2025, up from about 15%. How it applies to winnings from an international site is a question for a tax adviser.
Can I report an illegal betting service?
The Ethiopian Lottery Service asks the public to report illegal operators through short code 9695.